Reports

UH Manoa Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Service

Service Award Winner

Morris Lai

Morris Lai currently heads the Curriculum Evaluation Office in the College of Education’s Curriculum Research and Development Group and has served Manoa for almost 37 years. Those who work with him in the state Department of Education describe him as the “face” of UH Manoa, where he has been an advisor, teacher, panelist, reviewer and confidante through his research and evaluations.

Lai has made numerous contributions toward developing new culturally appropriate evaluation criteria, methods and techniques, and has been a member of numerous committees and organizations focusing on the Native Hawaiian language, culture and community.

A repeat winner of prestigious national awards, he is also internationally recognized for his work while generating more than $26 million in extramural contracts and grants.

His infamous “Laiberry” began with a personal donation of books, which has since expanded to over 4,000 titles on Hawaii and Hawaiian education.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Service honors Manoa staff members who demonstrate outstanding work performance, service and leadership. Criteria include record of competence and efficiency, exceptional contribution in the attainment of program objectives, creative solutions to difficult problems, integrity and dedication to the mission of a program.